distinctly lesser

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "distinctly lesser" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is clearly or noticeably of lower quality, value, or importance compared to something else. Example: "The second movie in the series was distinctly lesser than the first, lacking the same depth and character development."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Francois d'Assise," "Turangalila" seems a distinctly lesser beast.

The New York Times

The supplementary works in the show are of no help in this regard, emphasizing later — and distinctly lesser — artists whom Angelico influenced.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

While this part of the book has been shortened, there have been added at the end fresh sections on induction, on the magnetic circuit a distinctly valuable chapter and another of lesser merit on dynamo-machines.

Nature

This factor could be used for array quality control, as it would have lower or distinctly different correlations with arrays of lesser quality.

BMC Genomics

Inside the lighting is far from perfect, and the collection itself, mixing masterpieces by Cézanne, Picasso and Soutine with second-rate paintings by lesser-known artists, has a distinctly oddball flavor.

The New York Times - Arts

Additional government spending is distinctly not the approach that Europe (and, to a lesser extent, the U.S). has pursued over the last six years, as political leaders have imposed a wide range of spending cuts — the pursuit of "austerity" as a response to hard times.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

This is further reflected in the above mentioned γS-C6 bond distances in the AB dimer and, to a lesser extent, the CD dimer, which are distinctly shorter than the sum of van der Waals radii (3.5 Å) for the sulfur (1.8 Å) and carbon (1.7 Å) atoms.

BioMed Research International

Other complex molecules appeared to a lesser degree and were described by the authors as clearly distinctly different from hydrothermally derived compounds (i.e., compounds that are thought to be inherent to hydrothermal fluids samples as opposed to contaminants).

Geochemical Transactions

McCullers, who had so adeptly captured the desolation of her moment and constructed from a grim reality a distinctly American political parable, was left a famous author but a lesser writer.

The Guardian - Books

Third, not to belong to any bloc, organization, group, clique or school whatever". In fact, Fowles belongs to that small but distinctly enviable bloc whose members are successful enough to dispense with the usual loyalties that bind lesser folk.

The New York Times - Books

Whilst there appears to have been little sequence divergence in vertebrate stomatin sequences, podocin and, to a lesser extent, slipin-3 have undergone significant sequence evolution making it likely that they are functioning in a distinctly different manner to other family members.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "distinctly lesser", ensure the context clearly establishes what is being compared. This provides clarity and strengthens the impact of the comparison.

Common error

Avoid using "distinctly lesser" when the difference is minimal or subjective. Reserve it for situations where the disparity is clear and significant to maintain credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "distinctly lesser" functions as an intensifier (distinctly) modifying an adjective (lesser). This adverb-adjective combination emphasizes the degree to which something is smaller, lower in quality, or of reduced importance.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "distinctly lesser" is a phrase used to emphasize a clear and noticeable difference in degree or quality. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically sound and usable, though relatively infrequent. It is most commonly found in News & Media, Science, and Academia. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly establishes the items being compared and that the difference is significant to avoid overstatement. Consider alternatives such as "decidedly lesser" or "significantly smaller" for subtle variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

decidedly lesser

Emphasizes a clear and unambiguous difference in magnitude or quality.

significantly lesser

Emphasizes that the difference is important or consequential.

appreciably lesser

Highlights that the difference is significant enough to be noticed or measured.

considerably lesser

Similar to 'substantially lesser', indicating a notable difference.

substantially lesser

Indicates a considerable difference in size, amount, or degree.

noticeably lesser

Indicates that the difference is easily observed or apparent.

vastly lesser

Suggests an immense difference, often implying a significant disparity.

clearly lesser

Similar to 'obviously lesser', signifying a readily apparent distinction.

obviously lesser

Highlights that the difference or gap is easily recognized.

distinctly smaller

Focuses specifically on a difference in size, emphasizing clarity.

FAQs

How can I use "distinctly lesser" in a sentence?

Use "distinctly lesser" to emphasize that something is noticeably smaller or of lower quality compared to something else. For example, "The sequel was "distinctly lesser" than the original movie".

What are some alternatives to "distinctly lesser"?

You can use alternatives such as "decidedly inferior", "significantly smaller", or "markedly lower" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. Each of them express a noticeable difference in some attribute.

Is it always appropriate to use "distinctly lesser"?

No, it's important to use it only when there is a clear and considerable difference between the two things being compared. Overusing it can weaken its impact. If the difference is minimal, consider using a more moderate term.

How does "distinctly lesser" compare to "slightly lesser"?

"Distinctly lesser" implies a significant and noticeable difference, whereas "slightly lesser" suggests a minor and less obvious difference. The choice depends on the magnitude of the difference you wish to emphasize.